CLEVELAND, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its continued commitment to
transparency, Cleveland Clinic is implementing several measures to enhance
patient and consumer access to timely information about their doctors'
professional background, as well as the patients' own medical records.

Recently, Cleveland Clinic posted on its Web site
(www.ClevelandClinic.org) a current directory of all its physicians, listing
their educational and professional backgrounds, their medical specializations
and their relationships with industry. To access the information on the
Clinic's website, click on "find a doctor" and fill in a physician's last
name.

Included for each physician, scientist and physician/scientist will be a
list of the names of companies with which they have collaborations, further
identifying whether they have equity, the right to royalties, a fiduciary
position or a consulting relationship that pays $5,000 or more per year.
Cleveland Clinic has a rigorous process by which it identifies, evaluates,
limits, eliminates, or manages potential conflicts of interest. That process
is handled by the institutions Innovation Management and Conflict of Interest
Committee.

Cleveland Clinic physicians and researchers must submit for approval all
industry relationships pursuant to Cleveland Clinic's conflict of interest
process and as part of Cleveland Clinic's commitment to innovation through
collaboration.

"We want our patients to have abundant information about our physicians
and let them decide what's relevant to their situations. As far as we are
aware, Cleveland Clinic will be the first academic medical center in the U.S.
to disclose to its patients and the public the industry ties of its
physicians," said Joseph Hahn, M.D., Chief of Staff, Cleveland Clinic.

In addition, with limited exceptions, Cleveland Clinic is making patient
medical records more readily available to patients who request to review their
own records during their hospital stay.

"Giving patients access to timely information that may be relevant to
their individual circumstances is essential to achieving a positive patient
experience," said Delos M. "Toby" Cosgrove, M.D., President and CEO, Cleveland
Clinic. "Patients today value the availability of data and information they
can use in making informed decisions about their healthcare. Cleveland Clinic
is doing its part to ensure patients have access to the information they deem
necessary."

The enhanced physician directory and related disclosures and the open
medical records policy are an affirmation of Cleveland Clinic's commitment to
transparency and Patients First, the principles at the heart of Cleveland
Clinic's medical care and operations. To date, Cleveland Clinic has sought to
expand its transparency by revamping its web site and annually publishing
outcomes books detailing the performance of clinical programs throughout the
institution.

Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit
multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital
care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four
renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based
upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News &
World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation's best
hospitals in its annual "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Approximately 1,800
full-time salaried physicians and researchers at Cleveland Clinic and
Cleveland Clinic Florida represent more than 100 medical specialties and
subspecialties. In 2007, there were 3.5 million outpatient visits to Cleveland
Clinic and 50,455 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every
state and from more than 80 countries. Cleveland Clinic's Web site address is
www.clevelandclinic.org.